A Brief History of the 1st Mississippi Volunteer
Infantry

By Patrick McSherry

The 1st Mississippi Volunteer Infantry served its term of service
within the continental U.S. during the Spanish American War.

The History:

Following President McKinley's first call
for volunteer on April 21, 1898, the First Missisippi Volunteer Infantry
was mustered into service at Jackson, Mississippi between May 16 and May
26, 1898. At the time of mustering in, the regiment had forty-four officers
and 947 enlisted men.

On May 30, 1898, the regiment left Jackson and proceeded to Camp
Thomas, on the grounds of the former Civil War battefield of Chickamauga,
Georgia, arriving on May 31 without arms or ammunition. The regiment was
assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division of the Third Army Corps.
The Third Brigade was initally commanded by Col. Lucius Kendall of the
1st Maine Volunteer Infantry, who was succeeded
by Brig. Gen. Charles P. Mattocks on June 29. The other regiments in the
brigade were the 1st Maine Volunteer Infantry
and the 52nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry.

While the regiment was at Camp Thomas, an armistice was agreed to
between the U.S. and Spain on August 13, effectively ending the fighting,
though a final peace treaty would not be signed until December 10, 1898.
During its time at Camp Thomas, the men of the regiment were involved in
being equipped, trained, and drilled. The regiment received uniforms on
June 11, and was eventually equipped with Springfield Rifles, probably
a reference to the outdated "trapdoor" rifle
given to many of the rear-line regiments. One source, a Massachusetts newspaper
commented that the regiment "made a good impression at Chickamauga [Camp
Thomas]. Many of the men come from homes within sight of the gulf, and,
if not all immunes, are all acclimated for service in Cuba." This was referring
to an errant belief that men from this area of the country would be immune
to Cuba's tropical diseases...a faulty theory which, luckily for the regiment,
it never had to try out. Also, another witness mentions listening to the
1st Mississippi regimental band practicing in camp. Unfortunately, the
review of the performance is not good, being described as "Rotten, Rotten,"
with the band leader's facial expressions indicating that he appeared to
agree with the soldier-critic..

However, throughout the summer, conditions at the camp began to worsen
as the camp swelled to a city of thirty thousand men, with inadequate sanitation
and supplies. Disease climbed to alarming proportions. By the end of July
and into August, the U.S. Army began relocating regiments to other, more
healthy sites. Initially, it was aparently intended to sent the regiment
to Anniston, Alabama, but, instead, the regiment was relocated to Lauderdale
Springs, back in its home state of Mississippi, on September 8. Tensions
must have been running high because on Septmber 6, Private Kinney of Company
H assaulted Col. Govan and threatened to shoot the regiment's adjutant,
acts for which he was court-martialed and imprisoned. Comments had been
made that 1st Mississippi's camp lacked control since Govan was too lenient
with his men.

Given the unhealthy conditions, and the apparent lack of need for
troops, the First Mississippi was one of a number of regiments that requested
to be released from service. The regiment was given a thirty day furlough,
beginning on September 30. The furlough was eventually extended to November
28.

At the conclusion of its furlough, the regiment was sent to Columbia,
Tennessee, where it was finally mustered out on December 20, 1898, ten
days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, ending the war. On the train
trip from Columbia, Tennessee, it was reported that many in the regiment
were drunk, shooting up houses en route, and taking shots at indivduals.
Reportedly, one child, George Thomas was killed and his mother, Lucy mortally
wounded by the guns of the regiment. Both were African American.

During it term of service, the regiment lost two officers and twenty-nine
enlisted men to disease. In addition, one enlisted man was killed in an
accident, fourteen ten men were discharged on disability, and twenty-eight
men deserted.

Clerk of Joint Committee on Printing, The Abridgement of Message
from the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress.
(Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899) Vol. 3, 224, 225.

Correspondence relating to the War with Spain And Conditions Growing
Out of the Same Including the Insurrection in the Philippine Island and
the China Relief Expedition. Vol. 1 (Washington: Government Printing
Office, 1902) 530-534, 600.

"Grant as a War Strategist," Nebraska State Journal. Lincoln,
Nebraska, June 12, 1898, 3. (uniforms)

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